Cellulosic product



Jan. 12, 1960 F. c. CARNES 2,920,759

CELLULOSIC PRODUCT Filed May 5, 1958 INVENTOR FRANK CLARK CARNES sYgea MM ATTORNEY CELLULOSIC PRODUCT Frank Clark Carnes, Appleton, Wis., assignor to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application May 5, 1958, Serial No. 733,015

7 Claims. (Cl. 20656) This invention relates to dispensing packages, and in its preferred form is directed to dispensing packs comprising a plurality of packages fastened together in such a way that one package at a time may be removed from the pack, each package as it is removed being thereby opened for dispensing purposes.

-Various products, such as cleansing tissues and cigarettes, packaged in dispensing packages of a size convenient for carrying in a pocket or a pocketbook, are marketed in cartons or boxes containing a plurality of these dispensing packages. Each such package 'must first be removed from the carton, and then an opening must be formed in its wrapper or wrappers to get it into dispensing condition so that individual articles may be withdrawn as needed. The wrapper material is often diflicult to tear neatly, or to tear at all, so that a tear strip commonly is provided. Frequently thesefail, due to faulty material. Other forms of opening devices require that instructions printed on the wrapper be followed. This requires attention and care on the part of the user, who normally has other things demanding his attention; As a result. of these conditions, access to the product is uncertain and takes time and care to achieve.

In the case of cigarettes, some States require that a State tax stamp be applied to an end of each package. This requires that each package be removed from the carton, a stamp be applied to each package, and the packages replaced in the carton.

The primary object of my invention is to overcome the above difficulties.

I have found that I can provide a novel multiple pack of individual dispensing packages which avoids the above difliculties, saves a substantial amount of the material heretofore used for the cartons, and which at the same time provides an attractive display. This is done by fastening each package to a support or tray in such a manner that when the package is removed from the support a dispensing opening is automatically formed in the package wrapper. There is no need for the user to look for a tear strip, or for instructions as to how to open the package. When he takes a package from the support or tray it is opened for him.

In a preferred form of my invention I provide a mul- United States Patent Fig. 4 is a penspective view showing still another embodiment.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate the same or similar parts, Fig. 1.illustrates one embodiment of my invention comprising a plurality of packages 10 of folded tissues arranged in stacked array with their lower ends resting on a tray 11. Two of the packages have already been removed from the front of the tray, and a third package 10' is illustrated which has just been removed. To provide strength and rigidity, the tray is preferably provided with upstanding side flanges 12-42 and end flanges 13-13 which are fastened together at the corners. These flanges enclose the lower end portions of the individual packages as illustrated. Each package comprises a packet of folded tissues 14 enclosed by a wrapper of paper or other suitable material 15. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the bottom of each wrapper 15 is secured by adhesive 16 to the bottom 17 of the tray. Other means, such as stapling, may be used for fastening thewrapper to the tray. A line of weakness, such as perforations, cut scores, or combinations of these, is provided in wrapper 15 around the package, this line of weakness being spaced above the bottom end of the package. Thus, when oneof the packages such as 10', is grasped and removed from the pack, the wrapper severs along the line of weakness leaving a portion 18 attached to the tray and exposing the end portions of the folded tissues 14 in convenient position for dispensing.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross section similar to Fig. 2 of a pack such as illustrated in Fig. 1, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment a plurality of packages. of cigarettes are disposed tiple pack comprising a plurality of Wrapped packages stacked along a supporting member or tray with their wrappers fastened thereto and with lines of weakness formed in the wrappers, so that as each package is removed from the tray a portion of the wrapper is automatically removed, exposing the wrapped article for convenient dispensing. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the appended drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken along the plane indicated by line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another embodiment of the invention; and

upon a tray in the same fashionasthe packages of tissues are disposed on tray 1 inFigf 1.' One package 20 has just been removed, exposing the next package 21 in the stack. Each package has an outer wrapper of cellophane or the like, indicated at 22, and an inner wrapper 23, only a portion of which is shown uncovered at the corner of package 20. In this case, it is desired to remove only a corner portion of the cellophane wrapper 22, to give access to the inner wrapper 23, which, unlike the usual outer wrapper, is easily torn, so that the inner wrapper may be opened sufliciently to give access to the cigarettes contained within. ages are all stacked on a tray 24. A line of weakness 25 is formed in outer wrapper 22. This may have any desired configuration, and it completely surrounds the corner indicated. At least a portion of this corner portion is fastened totray 24 by adhesive, as indicated at 26, or by other means, such as a staple. When one of the packages such as 20 is removed, corner portion 27 of wrapper 22 remains attached to tray 24, leaving the corresponding portion of inner wrapper 23 exposed, as illustrated.

Cigarette packages can be formed from a single thick ness having sufiicient strength to protect the contents,

using a suitable laminate such as foil and paperboard. For packages of this character it is desirable to make the removable section of the wrapper smaller, confining it to a portion of the end of the package which rests on the bottom of the tray, and making it of a convenient size to permit withdrawal of individual cigarettes while giving maximum protection to the remaining cigarettes. Fig. 4 illustrates such a package comprising a single Wrapper 30 after removal from its pack. Wrapper 30 is performed with a line of weakness which in the package lies along the edges at 32, 33 and 34, and in the folds across the end at 35. The portion of end 31 bounded by these lines is fastened, as by adhesive, to the tray (not shown). Removal of the package from the tray thus automatically provided the opening 36 in end 31, as illustrated. The line of weakness in this embodiment, instead of com- As in the first embodiment, the packprising perforations clear through the wrapper, may comprise score lines which do not quite go through the wrapper, of tsufiicient depth to sever cleanly when substantial force is applied,..while aLthe: same. time maintaining the integrity ofthe Wrapper until access to the contents is obtained by removal of the package from: the tray.

In all embodiments, the lines. of weakness preferably are formed by the dies which cut the package blanks.

It will be seen that I" have provided a novel. dispensing package which overcomes several disadvantages of similar prior art packages and gives quick access by combining into a single step what formerly took two steps; i.e. (1.) removing the individualpackage from the carton or container, and (2) opening the individualpackage. Carton material is saved, and an. attractive multiple package display is provided. When used for cigarettes, State tax stamps or indicia may be'applied to the ends of the pack ages Without removing, them from their supporting tray.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, numerous other embodiments are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing pack comprising. a package on a supporting tray, said package comprising an article and a wrapper enclosing said article, said package having an end abutting said tray, said wrapper having a minor por tion thereof between said article and said tray partly enclosing said article, at least a part of said wrapper in said minor portion being fastened to said tray, and a line of weakness in said wrapper spaced from said end and separating said minor portion from the major portion of said wrapper; whereby when said package is removed from said tray said minor portion of said wrapper will be removed from said package, thereby exposing said end of said article in convenient position for dispensing.

2. A dispensing pack as defined in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said packages disposed side by side in stacked array'on said tray.

3. A dispensing pack as defined in claim 2 wherein said tray comprises a bottom on which said packages are disposed and a plurality of sides extending from said bottom partially enclosing said stacked array.

4. A dispensing pack as defined in claim 1 wherein said article is a packet of tissues disposed side by side perpendicularly to said tray.

5. A dispensing pack as defined in claim. 4 comprising a plurality of said packages disposed side by side in stacked "array on said tray.

6. A dispensing packas defined in claim 5 wherein said tray comprises a bottom on which said packages are 'disposed' and a plurality.v of. sides extending from said bottom partially enclosing said stacked array.

7. A dispensing'packcomprising a plurality of packages disposed side by side in stacked array on a supporting member, said supporting member comprising a tray having a bottom on which: said'package's are disposed and a plurality of sides extending from said bottom partially enclosing said stacked array, each said package comprising an article and a Wrapper enclosing. said article, an abutting portion of said wrapper being disposed between said article and said tray, said abutting portion partly enclosing said article and lying along a portion of said supporting member, at least a part of said wrapper in said abuttingportion being fastened to said supporting member, said-.part being separated from a major portion of said wrapper by a line of weakness in said wrapper; whereby when said. package is removed from said supporting member said abutting portion of said wrapper will be removed from said package, thereby exposing said article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 2,920,759 I January 12, 1960 Frank Clark Carnes It is hereby certified that error appears in the -printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 65, for "performed" read preformed e Signed and sealed this 7th day of June 1960.,

(SEAL) Attest: Nana ROBERT c. WATSON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

